He Who Strikes First: REBELLION | Original Version

Chapter II

He was heading to Shang's cave to give him the berries in his pouch, when he saw his brother slumped by a tree. "Hey, Byung Ho..."
Byung Ho looked up, into the face of Jun. "Oh, hey Jun..." The poor young boy's face was stained in tears and mud. It looked like he'd been crying for hours, maybe even days. It has been a month since Cheol's death, but Byung Ho was still depressed about it. Jun sighed. Why was Byung Ho so attached to Cheol? He wasn't even leader that long. Maybe two moons or three, Jun couldn't quite recall. But he never understood why his brother was so attached to him. "Thinking about Cheol, again are you?" He asked, not thinking properly on what he had asked. Although it was an obvious answer, Byung Ho nodded. Jun sighed. "I'm sorry Byung Ho." He said, not meaning to make him upset again. Quickly moving forward, Byung Ho grabbed Jun, and pulled him close. "B-Byung Ho... I-" Jun was confused. Why was he suddenly being hugged? "Don't ever leave me Jun." Byung Ho mumbled. Jun was shocked. Why is this subject being brought up now? Why of all the things he could have said? "Byung Ho... I don't know if..." Jun tried to say something, anything to make the subject cease to exist. "Please, Jun. I care about you to much for you to leave, or die. Please." Byung Ho hugged Jun tightly. Jun wrapped his long, lanky arms around Byung Ho's shoulders. "It's okay, Byung Ho. I won't leave you. At least, not yet anyway." He smiled as Byung Ho looked into Jun's eyes. He had to at least promise him that. Otherwise, the subject would be brought up again. Jun held Byung Ho tightly in his grip. Though Jun was a strong young man, he could not hold the tears back as his friend cried into his shoulder. As he held his brother in his arms, he held him tighter. Trying to make him better. Jun couldn't understand his brother's emotions right now, but sensed that he was happy because of the hug they were sharing. It wasn't often since their parents passed away, that Jun shared moments like this with Byung Ho. He regretted not having them, it was just ever since he became Cheol's commander he was busy more often. He leaned against the tree, and dozed off.

As they lean against the tree, Jun awoke, side by side with his brother curled up under his arms. How long had they slept? Before he could do anything, he heard another commander ran up to them. "Jun!! Jun!!" He yelled. Jun looked up into the face of Muta. "Muta? What is the matter?" Jun asked, pushing Byung Ho off his shoulder, not realizing he would awaken him. Muta looked like had been looking everywhere for Jun. "Shang would like to see you." Muta said.
Jun frowned. "Huh, what does he want?
Muta shrugged. "Don't know, seems important. He sounded mad when he called for you, though."
Jun stood up, but Byung Ho grabbed his arm tightly. "D-Don't go Jun..." He sobbed. He was scared of Shang, and couldn't live with himself if anything were to happen to Jun.
He pulled Byung Ho's hand away from his arm, and growled. "Byung Ho!! The leader would like to see me, now let me go!!" Jun yelled as he walked off from the tree where Byung Ho sat. "Jun!! Please!!" Byung Ho yelled as Jun walk away. Jun felt guilty as he walked away from his screaming brother. "Muta, please look after him while I'm gone." He said as he walked passed Muta.

He headed to where he last saw Shang, and saw him. "W-What are you doing in my cave, sir?" Jun asked, walking into the mouth of his cave. Shang looked at Jun, with anger in his eyes. "Where are my berries you promised me?!" He yelled, turning to face Jun. He had a large piece of wood in his right hand. "Tell me!!" He yelled. Jun was busy with Byung Ho, that he had forgotten he had to take the berries to the leader. "Here," He held out a small pouch full of small, bright red berries. Shang hit them away. "To late for that, Jun!!" Jun cried loudly as the big piece of un-smoothed wood hit the side of his head. "Shang!! Please!!" He screamed, in pain and fear. Jun looked at his attacker. Shang had anger in his eyes, as he towered over him. "I- I'm sorry!!" His apology obviously did not go into Shang's ears. "Sorry?! You're not sorry, Jun!! All you do is disappoint me!! I don't need commanders like you!!" He yelled, as he raised the wood up, ready to give Jun another hit. Jun finally snapped. "Why are you like this Shang?!" He screamed, not thinking about what he was saying. "What would Cheol say if he saw you beating your commanders?!" The anger in Shang's eyes made Jun more scared. "No... Shang... I am sorry... I wont-" Jun realized that he had not said something right, and remembered the first rule that came into place after Cheol's death. Never speak of Cheol, nor mention his name. "Shut up!!" Shang shouted, cutting off Jun's apology slamming the piece of wood into the other side of Jun's head. He didn't care of the screaming he was doing, he just wanted to teach Jun a lesson. "You are a disappointment!! If you want to see Cheol that badly, dear Jun, I'll gladly send you there!!" He laughed. Jun gasped as Shang beat him again. And again.  And again.